Vapor-burning apparatus



No. 625,775. Patented May '30, I899. A. KITSON.

VAPOR BURNING APPARATUS.

- (Applipation filed m. 21, 1898;) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shoat l.

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No. 625,775. Patented May 30, I899.

A. KITSDN.

VAPOR BURNING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Mar. 21, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shaet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

ARTHUR KITSQN, OF PHILADELPHIA KITSON H YDROOARBON HEATING PANY, OF WEST VIRGINIA.

,IPENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AND INOANDESOENT LIGHTING ooM= VAPOR-BURNING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 625,775, dated May 30, 1899.

Application filed March 21,1898.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR KITSON, a subj ect of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vapor-BurningApparatus, of which the following is a specification. I My invention relates to that class of appa- Io ratus in which kerosene or other fluid hydro- I carbon is vaporized and burned to produce light-or heat, and more specifically is de-. signed to produce certain improved forms of construction which may be applied to that I 5 type of vapor-burning lamp which is illustrated and described in Letters Patent of the United States granted to me March 15, 1898, and numbered 600,792.

The objects of my invention are, first, to produce a perfect and regular vaporization of the oil and delivery of the same to the burner without the use of the needle-valve heretofore used; second, the more complete suppression of the hissing noise sometimes produced by the jet of vapor during the operation of the lamp; third, to produce a convenient means for feeding j ust the right amount of alcohol to the lamp for the purpose of starting the same; fourth, the concentration of the alcohol-flame on the vaporizing-tube; fifth, the production of currents of cold air next to the glass globe surrounding the bur- I ner for the purpose of from breaking by heat. I

The preferred form of my apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lamp with my improvement embodied therein, parts be- 0 ing broken away. Fig. 2 is a modified form of muffler for the mixing-tube. Fig. 3 is a section ofthe feeding-funnel. Fig. gt is a longitudinal section of the preferred form of vaporizing tube. J v I I Throughout the drawings like referencefigures refer. to like parts. 1 represents the bodyof the reservoir of the lamp, containing keroseneor other liquid 11y drocarbon under pressure sufficient to force it protecting the same Serial No. 674,573- (No model.)

up through the oil-supply tube 2 to the vapo 5o rizing-tuoe 3, the flow being controlled by the valve 4. The oil in the vaporzing-tube is vaporized by the heat given 0% from the vaporburner 5, within Whose heating zone said vaporizing-tube is located. The burner is preferably provided with a mantle of refractory material 6, capable of being raised to high incandescence by the heat of the burner. Preferably the we] l-known incandescent mantle known as the Welsbach mantle is employed. I

7 represents a circular flange or frame supporting the glass globe 7, which surrounds the burner, and 8 is a small alcoholcup whichmay be formed integral with the flange l 7 and surrounds the lower portion of the burner 5.

I 9 is the discharge-opening in the vaporizling-tube,and- 10 the air and-vapor mixing tube through which the mixture of vapor and entrained air is delivered to the burner 5.

- This tube 10 I may make wholly of asbestos millboard or other material which is less resonant than the sheet-iron out of which it 1 is ordinarily made, or it may be merely lined with such substance -as, for instance,lead. Either of these constructions reduces the hissing noise otherwise made by the jet of vapor discharged into said mixing-tube from" the vaporizing-tube.

10 represents a drip-cock for drawing off any oil which may be deposited at the lower end of the mixing-tube.

11 is a perforated top or cover for the open end of the mixing-tube. 8 5 12 represents a lining for said mixing-tube of some non-resonant material, preferably as- ;bestos cloth or millboard.

13 represents a cap placed over the open end of the mixing-tube and operating as a mufller to muffle or destroy the hissing sound otherwise produced by the jet of vapor. This muffler is lined withnon-resonant material, preferably asbestos cloth or nillboard, (shown at 14; but said muffler may be entirely composed, of such non-resonant material, such as lead or asbestos millboard; In either case the mufiler or tube so constructed is devoid of chimney placed on top of the glass globe 7, f

in the lower part of which the vaporizing-tube 3 is mounted.-

17 represents a small cup-shaped receptacle, preferably in the form of a funnel, holding just the requisite amount of alcohol for starting the lamp, and connected with the also hol-cup 8 by the tube 18.

19 is a plunger designed to close the discharge-orifice at the bottom of the feedingfunnel 17, and 20 is a spring-clip for holding said plunger 19 in the position of closure, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Thev vaporizing-tube 3 is provided with means for producing a complete vaporization of the oil and an even flow of the vapor theref rom,which consists, broadly stated,of a body of material arranged parallel to the axis of the tube and occupying a considerable portion of the interior thereof, but not extending throughout the entire length of the tube. This may be composed of a large solid core or closed tube, as shown in Fig. 4. In this form and in other modifications which might be made of my broad idea the function of the construction is to cause the body of oil and vapor passing through the tube to be broken up into a thin film compelled to travel along the surface of the vaporizing-tube instead of passing through the same in a solid body.

In the form shown in Fig. 4- the internal body of material is in the shape of a solid core 29 or tube closed at both ends, which is preferably supported by wire-gauze washers 27 and 28, concentric with the main vaporizingtube 3 and nearly filling the same. The discharge-orifice 9 of the main vaporizing-tube may be inside of the head 23 in the side of the tube, as shown, or it might be through said head itself. The controlling-valve may be located ate. In the modified form of mixing-tube muflier shown in Fig. 2 the end of said mixing-tube is left open without any means for breaking up the inrushing current of air into a number of separate streams, such as the strainer 11, (shown in Fig. 1,) and the muffier 13 is shown in cylindrical instead of hemispherical shape. It is, however, lined with non-resonant material 14, similar to that shown in Fig. 1.

I have shown in Figs. 5,6, and 7 a special arrangement of inner chimney 21, which I prefer to make of oblong cross-section and provide with a lower flaring skirt 30, which will have an elliptical orcircular form at the base, as shown in Fig. 7. The vaporizing-tube 3 should coincide with the major axis of this oblong cross-section, so that the greatest possible amount of its length can be included in said inner chimney.

31 is as hieldof wire-gauze which surrounds the alcohol-cup 8 and extends up to or slightly above the base of the incandescent mantle 6.

The method of operating my invention is as follows: The cup 8 being filled with a quantity of asbestos wicking, as shown in my patent above referred to, and the plunger 19 being in the position shown in Fig. 3, the op-. erator pours enough alcohol into the feedingfunnel 17 to fill the same. The plunger 19 is then lifted and the contents of the feedingfunnel rundown through the. pipe 18 to the cup 8, just filling the same. The alcoholvapors are then ignited by a match and the flame, concentrated by the shield 31, heats the vaporizing-tube 3 in the familiar way, but more quickly, to the temperature necessary to vaporize the oil in it. This concentration of the alcohol-flame prevents smoking and preserves the globe 7 from being cracked by a wavering flame. The oil=suppl y valve at or 4: is then opened andoil admitted to the Vap orizing-tube, where it is compelled to pass through the wire-gauze strainer 27 and along the central core 29 in the shape of athin film and in immediate contact with the surface of the main vaporizing-tube. The oil and vapor is brought into more immediate contact with the hot vaporizing-tube 3 than has been the case with the old form of vaporizing-tube, and its passage through said tube has been impeded and the period of contact prolonged. The result of this is a more complete and perfect vaporization of the oil. Another advantage is that the compelling of the oil to pass through a tortuous series of passage-ways and impeding its progress through the tube tends to overcome any pulsations or other inequalities of flow which have heretofore at times rendered the operation of the lamp irregular. Another advantage arises from the fact that the internally-arranged tube or other bodies are in metallic connection with the main vaporizingtube and become intensely heated therefrom, and thus present a large heatingsurface to the passing current of oil and vapor and alarge heat-carryin g body of material which will be less effected by the inrush of an unusual quantity of cold oil, and thus, again, the even action of the vaporizing apparatus is preserved. Still another advantage is that these internally-arranged bodies of metal, although heated, as above stated, arestill of a lower temperature than the main vaporizingtube itself and any particles of carbonized material in suspension in the vapor will consequently deposit on them rather than on the tube itself or in the dischargeopening 9. In this way the flow of vapor will not be seriouslyimpeded and at intervals the internal tubes or cores can be removed and clean ones substituted. This obviates the great difliculty which has been encountered with the old form of needle-valve when certain kinds of oil are burned. In such cases the deposits of carbon in a few hours on the needle-valve has proved sufficient to com- ICC pletely choke that valve and able the lamp.

WVhen the modification shown in Figs. 5 to 7 is employed, the upward current of hot completely disgases is concentrated on the vaporizing-tube said globe in part from the intense heat ra-- diated from the mantle 6 and cracking of said globe.

The discharge of the jet of vapor from the opening 9 of course entrains a quantity of air into the mixing-tube 10 and the mixture is fed to the vapor-burner in the well-known way. The action of the currents of air thus set up tends to produce a disagreeable hissing sound, which, however, is prevented by the employment of the strainer 11 or other means for breaking up the inrushing volume of air into a number of separate currents, and, further, by forming the mixing-tube itself and its muffler either partly or wholly of asbestos or othernon-resonant material.

It is understood, of course, that various changes could be made in the details of the apparatus embodying my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof so long as the relative arrangement of parts shown in the drawings or the principle of operationdescribed in the specification is preserved.

-I do not herein claim, broadly, the combination of the vaporizing-tube and the removable internal filler of a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the tube, said filler having a smooth cylindrical surface and bepreventing the i in g closed to the passage of gas therethrough,

as the same is shown, described, and claimed in my pending application, Serial No. 689, 657, filed August 27, 1898.

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vapor-burning apparatus, the combination of the vapor-burnerand connections, the vaporizing-tube within the heating zone thereof, the mixing-tube into which the vaporizing-tube discharges,and the muffler formed of non-resonant material placed over the airinlet to said mixing-tube.

2. In a vapor-burning apparatus, the combination of the vapor-burner and connections, the vaporizing-tube within the heating zone thereof, the mixing-tube into which the Vaporizing-tube discharges,and the muifler formed of non-resonant material placed over the airinlet to said mixing-tube, together with means for breaking up the inrushing current of air into a number of separate streams.

The combination with a vapor-burning apparatus of an air and vapor mixing tube formed of non-resonant materials.

4. The combination of the feeding-funnel, the loose plunger normally closing the discharge-orifice of said funnel, and the spring= clip on the funnel which holds said plunger in such normal position of closing.

5. A vaporizing-tube which has its oil-inlet at one end and its vapor-discharge at the other end, with an internal core of less diameter parallel to the axis of said Vaporizing-tube but not extending the entire length thereof, and wrappings of wire-gauze about either end of said core.

6. In a vapor-burning apparatus the combination of the vapor-burner and connections, the incandescent mantle therefor, the vaporizing-tube above the mantle, the alcohol-cup beside the burner, and the gauze shield which surrounds said cup and the base of the incandescent mantle, and concentrates the fiame'on the mantle and vaporizing-tube.

7. The combination of burner and connections, the translucent globe surrounding the same, the main chimney mounted thereon, and the inner chimney which is located centrally over the burner and leaves an air-space between it and the main chimney, said inner chimney being flattened in cross-section, together with the oil-vaporizing tube and connections to the burner, said vaporizing-tube extending across the inner chimney and ooinciding with the major axis of thecross-section of said inner chimney.

Signed by me, at New York city, this 17th day of March, 1898.

ARTHUR KITSON.

Witnesses:

A. PARKER SMITH, L. H. FOSTER. 

